Between Chances And Choices

Chapter 23

Jungkook grabbed the basket of white flowers from the passenger's seat. He carefully cradled it in his arms as he traversed the grounds towards the great lawn of the cemetery. He looked at the blooms and smiled to himself, thinking that he sure is going to be happy. He loved daisies. It's his favorite.

He looked ahead and saw a man standing in front of his grave. He marched quicker to get to him.

"Minjae hyung." Jungkook greeted before laying the basket down on the ground.

"Jungkook."

"I haven't seen you in a while."

"I know. It's crazy. I've been so busy."

They both eyed the tombstone. Jungkook lowered to his feet to brush off the leaf that flew on it.

"How are you?" He asked the older.

Minjae took a deep lungful of breath and loudly exhaled.

"I miss being Mr. Kim's secretary." He replied forlornly.

Jungkook looked up at him. "You like it better than being his vice president?"

He groaned. "I just can't help but feel the pressure every time. Honestly, I don't know how Mr. Kim does it."

"You're doing great, hyung. You're doing amazing. Without you, Taehyungie wouldn't be able to help people like Jisung."

They stared at his name wistfully. Two years ago, after recovering from his brain tumor surgery, Taehyung established a foundation to help people who are suffering from diseases that hinder individual bodily autonomy. Choi Jisung who's afflicted with Juvenile Parkinsonism was the very first beneficiary of the organization. A year ago, he died from complications at a tender age of sixteen.

"I'm sure that you'll feel less pressure as time goes by. But even now, you're already doing great. So don't worry too much, hyung."

Minjae smiled.

"Also, thank you so much for always taking over for Taehyungie. Especially when he doesn't feel good. Hyung, I can't thank you enough. Because of you, he feels less stressed about work when he's sick. He's always at ease that the foundation and all of the people it's supporting are in good hands."

He sniffed to push back the emotions that were overwhelming him.

"Hoping not to jinx it but Mr. Kim seemed much better this year. I mean, he hasn't had many bad times. Sure, he gets physically ill every now and then but he's always of sound mind. Not like the first few years."

Jungkook sprang up and straightened his pants.

"Thankfully. And hopefully it stays that way. You know, acceptance really helped. On his part and mine. When we accepted that we just had to live with his disease, that he really had to forego and forget some things, it became much better." He pursed his lips. "I really shouldn't have convinced him to undergo the therapy then."

"You really should forgive yourself for that. It resulted in a frightening consequence, yes, but you know Mr. Kim always mentions that time whenever he wants to give our recipients a much needed comfort or motivation. He doesn't consider it a bad time per se. Because of that therapy, he was able to miraculously return to a life he had that he thought he can't ever have again. He was able to enjoy many things again. The food, the drinks, the occasions and the lifestyle that he dearly missed. Even for a short time. To him, it's a miracle. The gods might not have granted him a permanent cure. But they gave him that."

Jungkook had always considered it as something the gods took back from Taehyung. And for a time he felt resentful of it. But there's his husband who has always been grateful for being given the chance to have it. At the end of the day, perhaps, it's just really all about perspectives.